I'm going to step out of the programming world here for a minute and comment on the REAL world. If you've ever been around me doing yard chores, moving projects, or other forms of physical labor, you've probably heard me quip, with sarcastic enthusiasm, at one point or another: "Another problem solved by violence!" Banging, jostling, smashing, or what-not ALL have their place in any physical project... and when it works, that's where my phrase comes in (pretending that the WHOLE world would be a better place if we'd only use violence to solve our issues). Think of Han Solo THUMPING on the back-bridge panel in The Empire Strikes Back while trying to get the Millennium Falcon to start up... that was truly a problem solved by violence.

Joking aside, it now looks like violence CAN be the solution. In an article I linked to off of bluesnews.com, it now appears that violence will now aid you in your quest to speak to a human the next time you call the phone company, or an airline, or some other big organization that SHOULD give a crap about you as a customer, but whose CEO has decided he'd rather pocket that 'caring' money, rather than re-invest it in his company's brand/customer loyalty.

The article, which covers some VERY cool technology, is worth a look-see.  It honestly sounds like cool technology. At first blush, it makes it sound like violence REALLY is the answer here. Other than an overheard imaginary one-sided conversation in my head that goes something like:"Calm down Ma'am, you're now talking to a real operator... good job bluffing a SUPER pissy attitude to get past the computers... oh, you weren't bluffing... my appologies..."), I see one big issue: when have you ever NOT been pissed when calling an airline or phone-company that makes you talk to a computer (and you know everyone else feels the same). I (jokingly) hate to say it, but maybe violence isn't the answer after all... Honestly, when you think about it, isn't that a scathing indictment of companies and society as a whole I can just hear some Dilbert-esque/Pointy-Haired boss saying: "With the new SCREW-O-MATIC 9000 we can actually cut costs AGAIN by laying-off MORE humans from the call center as our new software will be better able to spot irate customers who've been on hold too long..."

In other words... the article mentions that the software in question is smart enough to give you 'bonus anger points' for using expletives. Nevermind the fact that I'd rate VERY well with say Qwest...somehow I fear that once you've gotten to that point you've LOST your customer and they do business with you because they have no other choice... or if they do have a choice, they're simply tidying-up lose ends with you before they bolt to the competition.